2006-11-09 19:47:56 · 13 answers · asked by Thulasi D 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
Fascinating question. I think I will try to answer it philosophically, because I lack specific statistics.
The majority of retail spending in this country is often referred to as "conspicuous consumption." Chief among these is more generally known as "fashion," and more realistically referred to as "fad." That is, what most American teens (who make up the shock wave of fad, after all; it's inevitable) spend money on is what most American teens spend money on. That is, convince a kid it's "cool," or that "all the coolest people buy them," and they buy it. Because "everyone else" or "everyone cool" is buying it.
And usually, with girls, the thing is clothes, and that means a consciousness of what size you wear. What friends can you trade clothes with? Those are the ones you go shopping with. They take community interest in an outfit, and get three or four times the wear out of it. And the smartest "gangs" including one a size smaller, preferably who has a rich father, two or three that can share, and one a size larger who gets the cast-offs as they lose weight again.
So the second thing they spend money on is trying to lose weight. That is probably the most lucrative side of our economy after fashion, and they are the best of friends, go to the same clubs, and buy stock in one another's companies.
And THAT's what Americans buy when they can: stock in the companies that are fueled by the emotional lack of control of a mass of teenagers and young adults who just want to be cool.
Pitiful, ain't it?
2006-11-09 20:03:44 · answer #1 · answered by auntb93again 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The above answers are way wrong. American's spend their money on WOMEN. The 51 percent that are women, spend money on themselves, and the 49 percent that are men, spend money on the women. That's why us men have nothing.
2006-11-10 03:58:07 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
1. War
2. Cosmetics
3. Cars
4. Pornography
5. Self-help books
2006-11-10 05:41:16 · answer #3 · answered by Flashy Ashley 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Cars, Gadgets, Fasion
2006-11-10 03:50:58 · answer #4 · answered by taknev 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Stupid dancing santas believe me I know I loaded pallets in a distribution center it's a crying shame what you guys spend your money on!
2006-11-10 03:50:20 · answer #5 · answered by xx_muggles_xx 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nationally America spends it's (our) money on wars; supporting the military and fat cat politians. Your average american spends his money on sex and porn (and the pursuit therof) for men, and clothes and shoes for women.
2006-11-10 04:14:17 · answer #6 · answered by mztreasure999 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Foreign aid
2006-11-10 03:49:58 · answer #7 · answered by ray b 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Personally I would say food internationally aid
2006-11-10 05:04:36 · answer #8 · answered by devora k 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
food and gas
they eat too much and they drive a car too much.
actually they live in a car. they eat, sleep, travel, having sex in car...
etc
this terrible combination makes them the fattest in the world.
just the fact
2006-11-10 03:53:19 · answer #9 · answered by Martin the baby 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Useless krap like home theatre systems.
2006-11-10 03:51:00 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋